Winter Session Week three

Chinese New Year inspiration- Bamboo Fan Paintings & Rabbit Paper Cutouts

I love the idea of starting out the new year when the new moon begins. It seems so much more spiritual, celestial or just the idea that it is an event created by an event of our universe. It is one of those greater than "me" celebrations, and I like that. Chinese New Year is such an interesting events because it is surrounded by so many rituals and symbols. We like the idea of using it as an opportunity to understand and create something from the Chinese culture. This week we studied bamboo paintings. Using actual bamboo brushes, and teaching the children how to create each brush stroke for the different parts of the bamboo stalk, branches, and leaves. We did a lot of practice before we did the actual painting on rice paper. We had the children then cut out their painting and mount it on the base of the fan, and then we helped them glue on the holder. When it was finished they stamped a red poppy in the lower corner similar to what the artist would do when they signed their bamboo paintings, but with chinese characters. Since it was a first time for almost all of the children doing these kinds of paintings they did a fantastic job. It isn't easy and it takes great skill and control of the brush to master these style of paintings. Their fans turned out beautiful. Below is an example of an actual, beautiful bamboo painting

We also had them work on a simplified version of chinese paper cutouts. The real ones are extremely delicate and intricately cut. I am always amazed by this art, because it would take such patience, and delicate hand control. From the website www.paper-cuts.org says this about paper cut outs, "Chinese paper-cut is one of the most popular folk art. According to the archaeology's record, the history of the paper-cuts can be traced to the six century AD, but many people consider that it should be several hundred years earlier than the fact of its origin time." Since it is the year of the rabbit we had the kids trace and cutout their own rabbit and mount it on a contrasting color. Cutting skills we find teach great coordination and patience.

Happy Chinese New Year!!